‘Book of Mormon’ is big winner at Tony Awards

NEW YORK – The profane and hysterical “The Book of Mormon” took home nine Tony Awards on Sunday, including the prize for best musical — a considerable achievement for two first-time Broadway playwrights known more for their raunchy cartoons featuring potty-mouthed kids.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone, creators of the Emmy Award-winning “South Park,” found a kindred soul in Robert Lopez, who co-wrote the Tony-winning “Avenue Q,” and all three found themselves with plenty of awards when they collaborated to gently mock Mormons and send-up Broadway itself.

Additional Photos

Nikki M. James appears backstage at the 65th annual Tony Awards in New York on Sunday. James won the award for best performance by an actress in a featured role in a musical in “The Book of Mormon.” The Associated Press

Collecting the best musical prize, a subdued Parker, who tied Josh Logan of “South Pacific” with four Tonys in one evening — said he’d be remiss if he didn’t thank his late book co-writer — Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion.

“You did it, Joseph! You got the Tony!” Parker said looking skyward and holding up his award.

The show, which netted honors for best musical, best book, best direction of a musical, best score, best featured actress and four technical awards, came in with a leading 14 nominations and was the heavy favorite for the top musical prize.

“We know what the best musical is — it’s like taking a hooker to dinner,” comedian Chris Rock said before reading the nominees and announcing the winner.

“War Horse” — a World War I tale about horses told with puppets and actors — won five Tonys, including the best play award. The revival of “The Normal Heart” and “Anything Goes” both won three each.

Mark Rylance won the best acting award for a play for his powerful role of Johnny “Rooster” Byron in Jez Butterworth’s “Jerusalem.” Just as he did three years ago when he won for “Boeing-Boeing,” Rylance quoted a poem by Louis Jenkins, an obscure poet from Minnesota.

Norbert Leo Butz won for best actor in a musical. Butz, who plays a frumpy FBI agent hot on the heels of a con man in “Catch Me If You Can,” took home his second Tony. His previous win was in 2005 for “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.”

O’Brien calls failure ‘catalyst for invention’

HANOVER, N.H. — Conan O’Brien, a Harvard alumnus, had some teasing criticism for another Ivy League school.

Here at MaineToday Media we value our readers and are committed to growing our community by encouraging you to add to the discussion.

To ensure conscientious dialogue we have implemented a strict no-bullying policy. To participate, you must follow our Terms of Use. Click here to flag and report a comment that violates our terms of use.